Four defendants accused of torching ambulances of a Jewish organization in London plead guilty
The defendants pleaded guilty in court to destroying property by arson, after causing gas canisters to explode in ambulances belonging to the 'Hatzala' organization in the Golders Green neighborhood. The prosecutor noted at a previous hearing that there is evidence that this was a planned attack against the Jewish community, but the arson was not defined as a terrorist incident.
Four young men pleaded guilty in a London court to destroying property by setting fire to four ambulances of the 'Hatzala' organization in the Golders Green neighborhood in north London. The incident, which took place in the early morning hours of March 23, caused damage worth about 1 million pounds and damaged nearby apartments and a synagogue as a result of the explosion of gas canisters inside the ambulances.
The defendants are Hamza Iqbal (20), Raihan Khan (19), Judex Atchatchi (18), and Saif Ali, whose name was released for publication after he turned 18 in June. According to the indictment, Ali provided the Toyota car that the group used to travel from east London. The first three actually carried out the arson while the fourth, Ali, waited in the vehicle.
The four, who were arrested by the counter-terrorism unit even though the incident was not defined as terrorism, were remanded in custody ahead of sentencing. Prosecutor Emma Harvie noted at a previous hearing that there is significant evidence that this was a planned attack against the Jewish community, despite the defense's claim that the exact motive is unknown, even though a group linked to Iran claimed responsibility for the act.
